Article file



` Feb.v 23 1926.

W. A. RINGLER ARTICLE FILE Filed Oct. lO, 15,22

ATTORNEYS.'

Patented Feb. 2?, laat?.

WILLIAM a. amerita, or rnrnenanrrrrm rnivrrsYLvAm-a, A wnamcirn ce., or crncrirnarr, craie, a GQRPORATON SSIGNOR To GLOBE orv orario."

- ARTICLE FILE.

lApplication led October 10, 1922. Serial No. 593,546.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, TWELLIAM A. Rinuncia, a citizen ot' the United States, residing at Philadelphia, coi/mty ot Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania.y have invented a new and useful Article File, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention comprehends a novel construction of an article file which is adapted to be employed in filing or sorting a large variety of articles such as, for eX- ample, bank checks, cards or other papers.

` lt further comprehends a novel construction of an expansible iframe, a novel construction of a. follower block and novel means for locking the follower blocks in their adjusted position.

Other novel features oi construction and advantage will hereinafter appear in the detailed description and the appended claims.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings a typical embodiment thereof which is at present preferred' by me, since this embodiment will be 'found in practice to give satisfactoryand reliable results. It is,

however, to be understood Athat the various instrumentalities of which my invention consistscan be variously arranged and organized and that my invent-ion is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein Shown and described.

Figure 1 represents, in end'elevation, an article lille, embodying my invention. Figure4 2 represents a side elevation of my device.

Figure 3 represents a .section on line 3-3 of Figure 1. Y

Figure 4 represents on a reduced scale a front elevation yof the lower end of one oi the. cards.

Figure 5 is a detail longitudinal section on the line, of one ci' the tubular rods.

Similar `numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings,

The frame ijs adapted to be expanded lor contracted as may be desired, and is formed of two sections, which are counterparts oi f cach other. The frame is provided with end bars 1 and 2, respectively, 3 designates tubular rods spaced from each other and connected at one end to the end bar 1. In a.

similar manner, tubularspaced rods e are connected at one. end to the bar'2. These rods 3 telescope intov the rods 4.' The end bar 1 has fixed to it one end of a plate 5 which is slidable upon a similar plate 6 secured at one end to the end bar'2. The plate 5 has at the sides the downwardly7 and inwardly directed ilanges 7 torminga channel to receive the plate 6,7and the flanges 7 are deflected, as at 8, to form a stop for the clamping plate 9, through which passesa threaded rod 10 tired to the plate 6 and n.'cvicled with a clamping nut 11. The cards 12 are apertured to be received on the rods 3, and are provided with index tabs 1 3. 11idesignai'es the front follower block,

and 155 the rear 'follower bloclnfeach o'l which` is of the same construction and lockedin vplace bv means oli' similar lock-ing mechani'sin. The follower blocks are apertured lto receive the rods 3. Each follower block has pivotedto it, at 16. a manually actuated locking member 17 `in the form of a lever l'iaxdng` at one end the laterally extending cam 18 and the wedge-shaped tongues 19.

The lever 17 co-operates with a locking member 20v ot novel construction. The member .20l is preferably formed from a metal rod having;` its ends joined togetherl and provided with a laterally extending top 21 which merges into the sidesv 221, which latter, at their lower ends, form the loops or U- shaped portions 23 which merge into the laterally extendingl bottom 24. The sides 22 are freelyslidable in the guides 25 secured to their respective follower block. 26 designates a name-plate holder liXed to a follower block. 27 designates cushions, illustrated in the 'form of rubber bands surrounding the ends of the end bars 1 and 2 of the frame. vThe operation of my nove] article file will `now'be .readily apparent to those skilledin cned when the desired expansion has been attained. The frame can be contracted by moving the end bars 1 and 2toward eachV other. When it is desired to use the article file, the rear or front follower block,- or both, can be unlocked by raising upwardly the lever 17 thereby releasing the locking memy ber 20. When the locking lever 1 7 is moved into its locked position, it will be apparent that the cam 18 will press downwardly on the laterally extending top 21, the wedgeshaped tongues 1) passing between such top 21 and its follower bloeit. 1/1. This positively locks the plates in position since the cam 18 presses and holds down the top 21 of the locking member. and the wedge-shaped tongue 19 wedges between the follower block and the (op member 15 so th at the sides Q2, sec Figure l, are in frictional engagement with the gnides`25 carried by the follower block. In this n'ianner the loops 23 will be clamped against the tubular rods 8 so that the follower block will be rigidly clamped with respect to the frame. and when both follower blocks are in clamped position, the cards or articles between them will be securely held in place. It will be apparent that the cards and follower' block are cut ont so that they are slidably mounted on the upper plate 5, see Figure 3.

The follower blocks act as compression blocks to secure the articles in place in the tile, and either one or both of the follower blocks may be in locked position. If both are in locked position, compression is obtained at the upper portions of the articles. lfilhen the resilient rods 2O move downwardly into clamped position, they are clamped against the tubular rods 3 as well as against the guides on the upper plate 5, and since the rods 3 pass through the follower blocks a very effective resilient clamping action is obtained, and since the transversely extending portions 241 of the clamping members are, so to speak, offset a very strong compressing action is also obtained as the tendency of the follower block is to move longitudinally of the frame in a direction away from the point at which it is clamped.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful article tile which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable inthe statement of the invention and the above description, and while I have, in the present instance7 shown and described an embodiment thereof which will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that such embodiment is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificingl any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An article tile having an expansible and contractible frame with means to-secure it inits adjusted position, follower blocks car- 1ried by said frame and adjustable thereon, a

locking member slidably carried by each followerV block to clamp against said frame, and means on the follower block to actuate its locking member.

2. An article tile, con'iprising an expansible and contractible frame formed of sections provided with a plurality of telescoping` rods and a pair of overlapping plates, means to lock said plates together to secure said frame sections in their adjusted position. follower blocks carried by said frame and longitudinally and angularly adjustable thereon, and locking i'nechanisni for said follower blocks to cause a greater compression on the upper portions of the articles between said follower blocks than on the lower portion of the articles.

3. An article file, comprising` an expansible and rontractible frame formed of sections provided with a plurality of telescoping rods and a pair of overlapping plates, means to lock said plates together to secure said frame sections in their adjusted position. one of said plates having means to prevent complete separation of said sections, follower blocks movably carried by said frame. and locking mechanism for said follower blocks to cause a `greater compression on the upper portions of the articles between said follower blocks than on the lower portions of the articles.

t. In an article file, a frame, follower blocks movably carried by said frame and locking mechanism for said follower blocks, said locking mechanism comprising a resilient member slidably mounted on its follower bloclr for bodily vertical movement thereon, and a second member movably carried by said follower block and having means to engage said resilient member to effect its locking engagement with said frame.

5. In an article file, a frame having end members, and spaced members connecting them, follower blocks slidable on said frame, and locking mechanism for said follower blocks comprising a resilient locking member having portions to overhang said members and having a resilient top portion, said locking member being slidably carried by its follower block, and a second locking member to engage said resilient top portion to compress said overhanging portion aga-inst said spaced members.

6. In an article le, an expansible and contractible frame, comprising end members, a pair of spaced rods extending from each member, the rods of one member having telescoping relationship with the rods of the other member, a plate carried by each member, one of said plates overhanging the other, means to lock said plates in their adjusted position and thereby `determine the capacity of said file, follower blocks slidably mounted on said frame, spring locking members carried by said follower blocks and slidable thereon and having portions extended to engage said frame and clamp the follower blocks in position, and means carried by said follower blocks to actuate said spring locking members.

7. In an article tile, a frame, a follower block movable thereon, and loe-king meclianism for said follower block, comprising a -resilient member movably carried by the follower block to clamp against said frame, and a lever carried by said follower bleek and adapted to engage said resilient member tol move it into and retain it in its locked position` said lever liavingg` a tongue to move said member away from its followerfbloek and a cam to cause the locking movement of said member.

8. In an article file, a frame having side and intermediate supporting` members, :a follower block movable on said supporting members, and locking mechanism for said follower block comprising a resilient locking` member extending transversely across said supporting' members provided with upwardly extending portions movably earrled by said follower block, and also provided with a top portion, and manually actuated means engaging said top portion to move said resilient locking member into locking engagement with said side and intermediate members.

9. In an article file, an expansible and con tractible frame having end bars, and telescoping' rods and overlapping platesl oonmeeting` them, a follower block apertured to be received on sai'd rods, cards apertured toV be received on said rods, a locking member having its lower portion offset and deiiected to overl'iang' said rods, slidably carried by said follower bleek and having an upper resilient portion and a manually actuated member carried by said follower block and adapted to engage said resilient portion to force the deflected lower portion of the looking member against said rods.

WILLIAM A. RINGLER.V 

